Wheel cover



June 19, 1962 G. A. LYON 3,039,826

WHEEL COVER Filed May 25, 1959 IIIIIIIIIII I G'eorge fl/erf Lyon United States Patent 3,t339,826 WHEEL COVER George Albert Lyon, Detroit, hliclh, assig'uor to Lyon Incorporated, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 25, 1959, Ser. No. 815,493 6 Claims. {CL 30137) This invention relates generally to wheel structures and more particularly to the provision of novel means for maintaining a cover member in snap-on, pry-oil relation with the wheel.

The present invention concerns itself with the provision of apparatus for interlocking an annular ring member and more specifically its outer edge to an axial flange of the wheel. In providing an annular ring member of the instant construction the cover may be attached to the wheel in an entirely new manner. As a result of the instant cooperation between the ring member and cover member, different and new ornamental shapes may be imparted to the cover.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a new and improved mode of attaching a cover member to a wheel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel annular ring member capable of interlocked engagement with one of the wheel parts and having shoulder means thereon capable of cooperating with a cover member in snap-on, pry-off relation therewith.

A further object of this invention is to provide novel means for assembling a cover upon a wheel.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved ring and cover member construction such as lends itself to economical manufacture on a large production basis.

A further very important object of the present invention is to provide a metal ring and cover assembly wh ch when mounted on a wheel during its rotation will be substantially noiseless.

According to the general features of this invention there is provided in a wheel structure including rim and body parts with one of the parts having a generally radial flange connected to an axial flange, an annular ring member having its radially outer marginal edge area in edgewise ring retaining engagement with the axial flange and its radially inner ring margin provided with circumferentially spaced cover retaining finger extensions, and a cover member for assembly on the wheel in overlying relation to said ring member and having an annular dished area defined by radially inner and outer side wall cover areas with the radially outer side wall area having an annular generally axially outwardly bulged cover area, the bulged cover area defining an axially inwardly opening cover pocket area having spaced confronting cover shoulders, the inner n'ng margin and the cover retaining finger extensions being engaged in snap on, pry-01f relation in the cover pocket area with the spaced confronting cover shoulders.

Another feature of the present invention relates to the cover member being spaced from the Wheel at all points and being engaged solely with a ring member.

Other objects and features of this invention may more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a single embodiment thereof and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of my novel wheel structure having parts broken away showing the relationship of the components;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional View taken substantially on the line 11-11 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, as seen in FIGURE 1;

3,039,826 Patented June 19, 1962 FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the structure shown in FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the ring member in gripping engagement with the tire rim.

As shown on the drawings:

The instant novel cover construction 10 is adapted to be retainingly maintained upon one of the parts of a wheel including a usual drop-center type tire rim 11 haw'ng an attachment flange 12 secured to a load sustaining body part 13 which has a webbed portion 14 which may be secured to an axle of a wheel by wheel mounting bolts or any other suitable means (not shown).

The rim part 11 includes a generally radially outwardly extending flange 15, a generally axially outwardly extending intermediate flange 16, a generally radially outwardly extending flange 17 and a generally axially outwardly slightly arcuate terminal flange 18. Mounted upon the tire rim 11 as is seen in FIGURE 2, is a tire 19 which may be either of the tube or tubeless type and may be inflated by the usual valve stem (not shown).

Referring now more specifically to the tire rim construction it will be noted that flanges 17 and 18 define together an annular seat 20, and that the intermediate and radial flanges 16 and 17 intersect at an annular junction.

.As is seen in the drawings, an annular ring member 50 is provided which ring member includes a generally axial ring portion or radially inner ring margin 51 having circumferentially spaced retaining finger extensions 52 positioned at circumferentially spaced intervals about the circumference of the inner margin of the annular ring member 50. Eachof the finger extensions 52 includes a relatively long generally axially inwardly extending axial leg 53 and a relatively short generally radially outwardly extending terminal leg or radially and axially inner rounded shoulder 54.

At the axially outer end of the axial ring portion 51 is an annular arcuate rib or ring or gooseneck portion or radially and axially outer shoulder 55 which serves several purposes as will subsequently become apparent. The portion 55 is engageable with the cover and provides means for maintaining the finger extensions spaced from the rim. Connected to this rib or ring portion 55 is a generally radially outwardly extending back-up ring portion 56 connected at its outer end to a generally radially and axially outwardly extending arcuate ring portion or outer ring margin 57 terminating in a continuous annular gripping edge 58.

Assembly of the ring member 50 maybe brought about in much the same manner as described in the parent application for patent entitled Wheel Structure, filed October 4, 1955, Serial No. 538,310 where a die member is utilized to press the edge '58 into retaining engagement with the terminal rim flange 18 behind the shoulder S. The ring member 50 may be manually assembled on the tire rim by hammering its outer margin so that the edge 58 will be engaged behind the shoulder S. It is also conceivable assuming the ring member is made of a more flexible type of metal that the ring member may be merely manually pressed into assembly with the tire rim.

A cover member 59 is adapted to be retainingly carried in assembly on the wheel by the ring member 50. The cover member 59 is generally circular in configuration and is adapted to overlie the rim and body parts to conceal the seam. The cover member 59 is provided with two radially and axially spaced circumferentially extending cover ribs 60 and 61 joined together by a generally radially and axially outwardly bulged or arcuate cover portion 62. The portion 62 also extends circumferentially of the cover and is adapted to confront the juncture of the intermediate and radial rim flanges 16 and 17 when the cover 59 is assembled on the Wheel.

The ribs 6% and 61 and the arcuate cover portion 62 define together a continuous annular cover pocket area as indicated generally at 52a. The cover pocket area 62a is adapted to receive the retaining extensions 52 as well as a portion of the inner ring margin. The arcuate cover portion 62 is bulged generally axially outwardly away from the Wheel to enable the retaining extensions to be readily disposed between the ribs 66 and 61. The ribs 6% and 61 also function to reinforce the outer peripheral area of the cover member 59. The cover rib 61 also functions as a pry-off rib whereby a pry-off tool may be Worked underneath the cover member and engaged against the rib 61 to separate the ring and cover members 50 and 59 from assembly together.

Connected to the outer end of the annular rib 61 is a generally radially and axially outwardly extending arcuate circumferentially extending cover portion 63 terminating in an underturned cover bead 64. The cover portion 63 is adapted to overlie radial rim flange 17 of the tire rim and the outer margin of the ring member 5% in generally axially spaced relation. Separating the ring member 5% and the cover portion 63 is a cavity which may be utilized to house wheel balancing weights and the like.

In the assembly of the instant cover member upon the ring member 5%, the cover member is first centered with respect thereto and thereafter is urged axially inwardly with the fingers 52 being progressively flexed by the annular cover rib 5% until the radial turned terminal portions or radially and axially inner rounded shoulders 54- of therextensions 52 are snapped behind the shoulder rounded defined by the rib 61 at its axially outer side. The fingers 52 when in assembly with the cover member are engaged with the cover member under resilient tension and it should be noted that the annular ring portion or the radially and axially outer rounded shoulder 55 as well as the retaining fingers are all disposed within the cover pocket area 62a and are biased between the rib 6t) and a segment or rounded shoulder of the arcuate cover portion 62 disposed immediately adjacent to the cover rib 61. it is in this manner that the cover may be manufactured in such a way that it may closely hug the rim flanges 16 and 3.7 when the cover member is mounted on the wheel in assembly with the ring member 5%. When the cover member is in assembly upon the wheel, the valve stem (see FIG. 1) projecting through the tire rim may be concealed by the cover member or the valve stem may project through an opening provided on the cover member, as desired.

The co er assembly including the annular ring member 50 and the circular cover member 5d may be made from different types of material to conserve cost and to enable the cover to have a diflerent appearance than conventional types of steel covers. To this end, the ring member may be made from spring steel while the cover member may be made from some other suitable metals such as aluminum and the like. Where the cover is manufactured from aluminum the cost of the overall production of the cover may be reduced thereby reducing the cost of manufacture thereof.

In view of the foregoing, it will now be appreciated that one of the finger extensions and cover portions 5'2 and 63 may be made relatively stiff and the other may be made relatively resilient in order to enable the members to be assembled together in snap-on, pry-off relation. In the illustrated form, the fingers are preferably resilient while the cover member is preferably relatively rigid.

Removal of the cover member 59 may be completed by inserting a suitable pry-cit .tool underneath the outer rnargin 63 and by working the pry-ofi tool underneath the cover margin whereupon a twisting pry-oil force may be applied through the tool to the cover to disengage the finger portions 54 from the rib 60 so as to release the tensioned engagement therebetween. The pry-ofi tool may be" worked underneath the cover to such an extent that the tip of the tool may be applied against the rib 61, if desired.

Ordinarily it is not contemplated that ring member 5i) be removed from the cover. However, if it is desired, the ring member 56 may be removed by inserting a suitable pryfit tool thereunder and forcefully ejecting the ring member 53 out of engagement with the rim.

In view of the foregoing description it will be appreciated that the ring member is provided with an edge 53 Which is adapted to be retainingly engaged behind the shoulder S on the rim flange 13. When the ring member is in assembly on the wheel the generally radially and axially outwardly extending portion 56 is bottomed against the rim flange 17 and the generally radially and axially outwardly extending portion 57 is bridged between the rim flanges 17 and 18 in spaced relation to the rim surface 2% The ring member is preferably slightly spaced from the rim in order that a suflicient force may be exerted by the ring member to hold the edge 53 behind the shoulder S.

Both the ring and cover members are provided with ring and cover areas which extend axially across the juncture between the intermediate and radial rim flanges l6 and 17 when the cover assembly is mounted on the the rim. These rim and cover areas are provided with means for retainingly maintaining the cover and the ring members on the wheel in snap-on, pry-ofi engagement together.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a wheel structure including rim and body parts with one of the parts having a generally radial flange connected to an axial terminal rim flange, an annular ring member having its radially outer marginal edge area in edgewise ring retaining engagement with the axial terminal rim flange and its radially inner ring margin provided with circumferentially spaced cover retaining finger extensions, and a cover member for assembly on the wheel in overlying relation to said ring member and having annular dished area defined by radially inner and outer side wall cover areas with the radially outer side wall area having an annular generally axially outwardly bulged cover area, the bulged cover area defining an axially inwardly opening cover pocket area having spaced confronting cover shoulders, the inner ring margin and the cover retaining finger extensions being engaged in snap on, pry-off relation in the cover pocket area with the spaced confronting cover shoulders.

2. In a wheel structure including rim and body parts with one of the parts having a generally radial flange connected to an axial terminal rim flange, an annular ring member having its radially outer marginal edge area in edgewise ring retaining engagement with the axial terminal rim flange and its radially inner ring margin provided with circumferentially spaced cover retaining finger extensions, and a cover member for assembly on the wheel in overlying relation to said ring member and having an annular dished area defined by radially inner and outer side wall cover areas with the radially outer side wall area having radially spaced ribs and an annular generally axially outwardly bulged cover area, the bulged cover area defining an axially inwardly opening cover pocket area having spaced confronting cover shoulders reinforced by the ribs, the inner ring margin and the cover retaining finger extensions being biased between the cover shoulders thereby sustaining in the cover member in detachable assembly with the ring member on the wheel.

a 3. In a w eel structure including rim. and body parts with one or" the parts having a generally radial flange connected to an axial terminal rim flange, an annular ring member having its radially outer marginal edge area in edgewise ring retaining engagement with the axial terminal rim flange and its radially inner ring margin provided with circumferentially spaced cover retaining finger exapaaeae tensions, and a cover member for assembly on the wheel in overlying relation to said ring member and having an annular dished area defined by radially inner and outer side wall cover areas with the radially outer side wall area having radially spaced ribs and an annular generally axially outwardly bulged cover area, the bulged cover area defining an axially inwardly opening cover pocket area having spaced confronting cover shoulders reinforced by the ribs, the inner ring margin and the cover retaining finger extensions being biased between the cover shoulders thereby sustaining the cover member in detachable assembly with the ring member on the wheel, the cover member being provided with a radially outer generally arcuate cover margin which is connected at its radially inner end with the radially outermost rib and with the outer cover margin being spaced from the ring and from the tire rim and cooperating with the tire rim and the ring so as to provide a pocket on the underside of the cover for the receipt of wheel balancing weights.

4. In a wheel structure including rim and body parts with one of the parts having a generally radial flange connected to an axial terminalrim flange, an annular ring member having its radially outer ring margin bridged across the radial and axial rim flanges with its opposite ends bottomed against the radial and axial rim flange and with the radially outer end comprising a continuous annular edge area in edgewise biting ring retaining engagement with the axial terminal rim flange, the ring member having its radially inner ring margin provided with circumferentially spaced cover retaining finger extensions, and a cover member for assembly on the Wheel in overlying relation -to said ring member and having an annular dished area defined by radially inner and outer side wall cover areas with the radially outer side wall area having an annular generally axially outwardly bulged cover area, the bulged cover area defining an axially inwardly open ing cover pocket area having spaced confronting cover shoulders, the inner ring margin and the cover retaining finger extensions being engaged in snap on, pry-off relation in the cover pocket area with the spaced confronting cover shoulders.

5. In a wheel structure, a wheel including rim and body parts with the rim part having a generally radial flange connected to an axial terminal rim flange, an annular ring member having its radially outer marginal area in ring retaining engagement with the tire rim and its radially inner ring margin provided with circumferentially spaced cover retaining finger extensions, and a cover member for assembly on the wheel in overlying relation to said ring member, the cover member having an annular generally axially outwardly bulged cover area spaced inwardly from the outer marginal edge of the cover, the bulged cover area defining an axially inwardly opening cover pocket area having a radially and axially inner pocket area shoulder and a radially and axially outer pocket area shoulder disposed in confronting relation, the extensions and the inner ring margin each having rounded shoulders with the shoulder on the inner ring margin being radially spaced from the rounded shoulders on the extensions, the rounded shoulder on the margin being engage able against the radially and axially outer pocket area shoulder and with the resilient extensions being progressively radially biasable on the radially and axially inner pocket area shoulder until outer ends of said extensions snap behind said radially and axially inner pocket area shoulder whereby the inner ring margin and the cover retaining extensions are engaged under resilient tension in the cover pocket area with the spaced confronting cover shoulders to maintain the cover member in assembly with the ring member.

6. In a wheel structure, a wheel including rim and body parts with the rim part having a generally radial rim flange connected to an axial terminal rim flange, an annular ring member having its radially outer marginal area in ring retaining engagement with the the rim and its radially inner ring margin provided with circumferentially spaced cover retaining finger extensions, the ring member having a central body ring portion bottomed against the radial rim flange, the radially inner ring margin including an Ofiset rib offset axially outwardly of said central body ring portion, and a dished cover member for assembly on the wheel in overlying relation to said ring member, the cover member having an annular generally axially outwardly bulged cover area spaced inwardly from the outer marginal edge of the cover and which comprises a side wall of a dished area or" the cover, the bulged cover area defining an axially inwardly opening cover pocket area having a radially and axially inner pocket area shoulder and a radially and axially outer pocket area shoulder disposed in confronting relation, the extensions and the inner ring margin each having rounded shoulders with the shoulder on the inner ring margin being radially spaced from the rounded shoulders on the extensions and carried on said offset rib, the rounded shoulder on the margin being engageable against the radially and axially outer pocket area shoulder and with the resilient extensions being progressively radially biasable on the radially and axially inner pocket area shoulder until outer ends of said extensions snap behind said radially and axially inner pocket area shoulder whereby the inner ring margin and the cover retaining extensions are engaged under resilient tension in the cover pocket area with the spaced confronting cover shoulders to maintain the cover member in assembly with the ring member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,202,102 Horn May 28, 1940 2,361,406 Lyon Oct. 31, 1944 2,410,174 Lyon Oct. 29, 1946 2,569,483 Lyon Oct. 2, 1951 2,621,978 Lyon Dec. 16, 1952. 2,683,628 Lyon July 13, 1954 

